Darjeeling bandh to resume today

The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), spearheading the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state, said on Sunday that it was ready for tripartite talks with the Centre and West Bengal government even as it braced to enforce an indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling hills from Monday after a 60-hour relaxation.

GJM press secretary Benoy Tamang said Dooars and Siliguri would be kept out of the ambit of the bandh but there would be relay hunger strikes at selected spots in the areas from Monday.

Tea gardens, cinchona plantations in Kalimpong and schools and colleges would be kept out of the purview of the bandh, Tamang said. National Highway 31-A linking Siliguri with Sikkim would also remain closed.

Tamang said the bandh had been relaxed from 4 pm on June 11 to 6 pm on June 16 to facilitate easy exit of tourists, allow people to buy food and essentials and honour West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi’s letter requesting the GJM to help restore peace and normalcy.

General secretary Roshan Giri said batches of seven GJM workers would undertake the relay fast alternately.